This week, the Senior School hall was transformed into Olympia, Greece, as Year 7 students stepped back in time to take part in their very own Ancient Olympic Games. The year group had spent several weeks exploring the origins and cultural significance of the Games in their Classical Civilisation lessons, and were ready to bring history to life with a fun, immersive experience.
Each student had been assigned to a different Ancient Greek city-state – Argos, Athens, Corinth, Megara or Sparta – and arrived proudly waving their handmade flags and reciting team oaths they had written in class. The lesson began with a lively opening ceremony, echoing the traditions of the first recorded Olympic Games in 776 BCE, which were held in honour of Zeus at Olympia.
Students competed in a variety of (carefully adapted!) Olympic events. While the original Games featured sports such as pankration (a brutal mix of boxing and wrestling) and chariot racing, our version was a little more school-friendly. Events included javelin (using paper planes), Olympic tongue twisters, a memory-based boxing challenge, shot put (throwing balls into baskets) and knucklebones (based on the ancient Greek game similar to jacks), where students examined and recreated scenes from ancient pottery.
The activity not only deepened students’ understanding of the ancient world but also encouraged them to make meaningful connections between classical and modern societies. The whole year group embraced the spirit of competition and collaboration, with shouts of encouragement echoing through the hall. Each event provided a chance to apply what they had learned in lessons in a lively, memorable way, and the sense of camaraderie and city-state pride was evident throughout!
Their teacher, Mrs Jeffreys, commented: “It was fantastic to see the students so engaged. This kind of hands-on learning helps them remember key historical facts and concepts in a meaningful way. They learned not just about sport, but also about ancient values like honour, loyalty and excellence, which are still relevant today.”
The lesson ended with a ceremony and plenty of smiles. Well done to all involved!